DEFENCE MINISTER COMMENTS ON NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE

( Editorial: --> 8111 ) ZAGREB, July 16 (Hina) - Investigations carried out in the Croatian Army have not confirmed the authenticity of claims on the alleged involvement of Croatian Army members in training the Kosovo Liberation Army or in any other way participating in its operations, Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang said Thursday. Following today's Government session, Hebrang commented for Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) on claims in a New York Times article that professional Croatian soldiers are allegedly fighting in Kosovo and a request by NATO commander in Europe Gen. Wesley Clark for Croatia not to get involved in the Kosovo conflict in any way. Hebrang said he had been warned about this by Gen. Clark about two months ago. After that, the two officials had phone conversations several times. During these conversations Clark warned about allegations that Croatian Army soldiers were participating in the Kosovo conflict as instructors or active officers on the side of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hebrang said. The Defence Minister said each time he requested concrete evidence from Clark but never received it. "Understandably, following these reports we carried out investigations in our armed forces and established that there is absolutely no proof that any Croatian officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier is involved in such business," Hebrang said. "Give us evidence and we will surely solve this - that was my comment on the New York Times article. Croatia's strategic and political stand is not to meddle in internal affairs of a neighbouring state and the security and stability in this region. Therefore, anyone who should venture such a thing could do it only independently, but in such a case we would apply all legal sanctions. I repeat once again - without concrete evidence I consider this to be a form of political pressure," Hebrang concluded. (hina) jn rml 162030 MET jul 98